Other than their new affiliation with the Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, the Rochester Rhinos have had a relatively quiet offseason. But the USL PRO club announced Wednesday that it has signed the type of finisher it needs. The Rhinos have acquired free-agent forward Matt Luzunaris, a 23-year-old who was third in the league in goals (nine) and fifth in points (20) for league runner-up Orlando City last year. He’s 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds and turned pro in 2008 after just one season at Central Florida University. “We were looking for a young player who had a history of scoring goals in this league as our premier signing,” said Myers, whose second-place Rhinos (12-7-5) never had a consistent scorer last year in the coach’s first season. “We think that we found that player in Matt.”

Luzunaris had nine goals and two assists last season in just 18 matches. He played only 934 minutes during an emotional season when his fiancée, Austen Everett, died. She was 25. “Matt needed a new start and we are happy to provide that opportunity,” Myers said. Everett, who’d battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, died Aug. 14. A former soccer player, she’d suffered a heart attack on Aug. 1 in Harrisburg, Pa., where Orlando was playing. Luzunaris’ production was impressive, especially compared to Rhinos forwards. Andrew Hoxie had six goals in 875 minutes and Isaac Kissi one goal in 465. They were both third-year Rhinos. Rookie Kendell McFayden had two goals in 513 minutes and Graciano Brito, who retired in mid-season due to an injury, and backup Conor Chinn also saw time up top. Scottish veteran and former MLS player Tam McManus also was a disappointment. A forward and midfielder, he had one goal and two assists in 1,426 minutes. Out of that group, only McManus and McFayden are under contract and expected to return.

A second-team all-league pick, Luzunaris joined Orlando during its 2011 USL championship season on loan from San Jose (MLS). His first pro contract was in Austria, where he spent 2008-2010. That included a six-month loan to Botafogo, a top Brazilian club. He trained with the first team, but didn’t play in any matches due to a visa issue. He played in six matches for San Jose (MLS) in 2011 before joining Orlando City in July.

Rochester returns a strong nucleus led by USL Defender of the Year Troy Roberts, USL Goalkeeper of the Year Kristian Nicht, 2011 team MVP Tyler Rosenlund and McManus. J.C. Banks, last year’s team MVP, is a free agent and may return. He’s still rehabilitating from a torn ACL. “We have a couple of more pieces that we are going to be putting in place over the next month, and that’s before we even begin to think about our MLS allocation from New England,” said Myers, whose team’s season opener is April 14 in Tampa and home opener May 4 against Harrisburg. “Things are beginning to fall into place.”

Leave a Reply

Jeff DiVeronica has covered professional soccer and the Rhinos for the Democrat and Chronicle since the team's inception in 1996. "Devo's Direct Kicks" takes aim mostly at Rochester soccer, but will also highlight the USL, MLS and U.S. national team play. Devo, his nickname since college at St. John Fisher, also hosts two weekly radio shows each Saturday on WHTK-AM/FM (1280/107.3 or www.whtk.com). "Kick This!" (11 a.m.) features soccer talk, while the Canandaigua National Bank High School Sports Show (noon) covers Section V sports. E-mail Jeff at jdiveron@DemocratandChronicle.com.
Or follow him on Twitter: @RocDevo